Tankmates: Eats small fish that come to the surface (neons, guppies). Good with mid/bottom-dwelling fish too large to eat and not fin nippers, e.g. Congo tetras, larger Synodontis, peaceful cichlids. Avoid other surface dwellers and nippy barbs.
Feeding: Takes food only at the surface; sinking food is ignored. Many settle onto floating sticks and flake.
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The African butterfly fish (Pantodon buchholzi) is a surface predator from West African rivers. Its wide, wing-like pectoral fins give it the look of a butterfly or a dead leaf floating on the water. It spends almost all its time just under the surface, waiting for insects to land, and it is one of the few freshwater fish that can leap and glide short distances.
It is not related to the colourful marine butterflyfish. It suits keepers who want an unusual top-level fish for a calm, planted tank. FishyHub lists butterfly fish from Malaysian aquarium shops and sellers, with prices in RM.
| Care point | African butterfly fish |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 10–12 cm |
| Temperature | About 24–30°C, so normal Malaysian room temperature is fine without a heater. |
| Minimum tank | 2 kaki (60 × 30 × 36 cm, about 55–65 L) with a tight lid. A longer tank gives more surface space. |
| Temperament | Peaceful with mid- and bottom-level fish; eats anything small enough at the surface. |
| Diet | Insectivore: floating pellets, crickets, flies, bloodworm and small prawns. |
| Beginner-friendly? | Intermediate. Hardy, but it needs a lid and surface foods. |
Surface area matters more than depth. Use a long tank with floating plants such as Salvinia, frogbit or water lettuce to give shade and cover. Keep the water flow gentle at the top, so a sponge filter or a filter outlet aimed away from the surface works well.
A lid with no gaps is essential. Butterfly fish jump when startled or chasing food, and a missing lid is the most common way they are lost. Leave a small air gap between the water and the lid so they are not squashed against it.
They feed almost entirely from the surface and rarely chase food that has sunk. Offer floating carnivore pellets, small crickets or fruit flies, and frozen cacing darah (bloodworm) placed on the surface. Feed small amounts once a day and remove anything left floating, because uneaten insects quickly foul the water.
Our warm climate suits butterfly fish well. The main thing to watch is surface temperature under strong lights on hot days, since this fish lives right at the top. Floating plants help, and a kipas akuarium (cooling fan) can lower the temperature during heatwaves. They prefer soft, slightly acidic water, which matches much of Malaysia's tap water once it is treated with anti klorin.
Check that the fish has intact pectoral fins, a straight body and is feeding from the surface. Look for real photos of the actual fish, the current size, and the seller's delivery or self-collect options and live-arrival policy. Prices in RM are usually moderate and depend mainly on size.
Ikan butterfly fish makan di permukaan air. Beri pelet terapung, serangga kecil seperti cengkerik dan lalat buah, serta cacing darah. Ia jarang makan makanan yang sudah tenggelam.
Ikan ini memang pandai melompat untuk menangkap serangga. Gunakan penutup akuarium yang rapat dan elakkan mengejutkannya.
Yes. It lives in fresh water and is unrelated to marine butterflyfish found on coral reefs.
Yes, in a long tank with plenty of surface space. They can squabble, so give each one its own floating cover.
Browse African butterfly fish from Malaysian sellers and compare prices in RM. Add floating plants and a secure lid, and look at rasboras or corydoras as calm tankmates below.
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